Can You Legally Shoot A Person For Trespassing In Louisiana?

Attention criminals! Under Louisiana law, a person can use deadly force against another if there is a reasonable belief of immediate danger and bodily harm. So, the next time you consider going on someone's property, in their garage/carport or portable building. You may want to think long and hard about it.

Trespassing or breaking and entering can be a fatal mistake for thieves in the Bayou State. Ask yourself the following questions:

"Am I willing to die for what I'm about to steal?"

"Is this person's property worth more than my life?"

Hopefully, the answer is no. If you steal for a living, find another hobby! In Louisiana, using deadly force to protect yourself, another person, and your property is legal. It is legal for a person to use deadly force if there is a reasonable belief of immediate danger and bodily harm. Furthermore, under Louisiana law, shooting intruders to defend your home, business, or car is legal. Unlike some states, Louisiana has NO DUTY TO RETREAT.

The state's Stand-Your-Ground and Castile Doctrine are the reason why. Both laws protect individuals from prosecution if they use deadly force to defend themselves, another person, or property against a forcible crime involving danger, even if there is no such threat. Here is more on the two laws in detail.

Louisiana allows the use of deadly force in self-defense or defense of others to “prevent a violent or forcible felony involving danger to life or great bodily harm.” Louisiana law allows a person to step in and use deadly force to defend someone else as long as the victim is legally justified.

For example:

Under Stand-Your-Ground you can use deadly force against them in self-defense or defense of another and are not obligated to leave to prevent a conflict. This is called Justifiable Homicide under Louisiana law. Here is a deeper look into this law.

Self-Defense Weapons Legal In Louisiana
Tasers, Stun guns, and defensive sprays like pepper spray are legal to purchase and possess without a permit. In Louisiana, you do not need a permit to buy a handgun or a registration for a firearm.

Is It Legal To Shoot Someone To Protect Property In Louisiana?
Yes. If a homeowner shoots and kills an intruder during a home invasion and reasonably believes that he/she is in imminent danger of losing their life or receiving great bodily harm, the killing is necessary to save themselves from danger. This is considered Justifiable Homicide - La. R.S. 14:20.

Louisiana's "Kill the Carjacker" Statute
Believe it or not, this law is on the books. It was enacted in July of 1997 and made it legal for Louisiana motorists to take the law into their own hands. The statute justifies homicide when the driver or passenger of a vehicle believes that another
a person is committing or attempting to commit a burglary or robbery
of the vehicle through the use of any unlawful force.

There is no duty to retreat. Instead, this law justifies homicide committed
by a passenger or driver inside the vehicle against an individual who
is attempting to enter the vehicle and deadly force is necessary
prevent the individual's unlawful entry.

Criminals beware. Know the law and understand the consequences of a life of crime. It's just not worth it.